Isle of Springs Column: Tennis, clean-up details and more

Tue, 08/16/2022 - 10:15am

Happy news is the birth of our latest islander, Charles (Charlie) Perry Welty, born to Asa and Madeline Welty on Friday, Aug. 12! Congratulations to all! We send best wishes to Linda Harper as she is now recovering here on the island from multiple injuries due to the boating accident three weeks ago.

As July moved to August, we experienced Maine’s record-breaking heat. Temperatures the first week of August ranged from 82F - 92F, the latter of which just happened to be the day of the Annual Mixed Doubles Tournament. The Annual Meeting (live for the first time since 2019) was held at the Casino on Aug. 6. Sunday dawned hot, almost too hot to hold the Annual Mixed Doubles Tournament. A stalwart group of competitors showed up and played it out under the blazing sun while baked goods were sold to benefit the Tennis Club. Tournament winners were Chris Aeschliman and a combined pair (due to the heat) of Lea Aeschliman and Alexa Stevens. Second place went to Matt Bogart and Drea Miller. The neat trophies, donated from Cara Burvill and Jason Orlanto’s wedding and decorated by Eric Miller, were prizes truly earned. Speaking of tennis, the Children’s Tennis lessons this season were taught by Sadie Yentsch, who came to us from the BBHYC. By the end of the sessions, each child had significantly improved in competence on the court. Perhaps the Junior Tournament will be resurrected in the future!

Sunday Service, 8/7 led by Brenda Bowen, focused on the indigenous people of Maine who preceded the Europeans. These peoples, including the Abenaki tribe, have been described as having a different relationship to the land serving more as stewards than owners. Brenda read excerpts from “Braiding Sweetgrass” which shared some of the indigenous wisdom of the native people. The bouquet at the podium was comprised of flowers and plants (ferns, goldenrod, cattails and asters) native to New England before the 1600s.

The second annual IOS Work Party was held on Monday. Brush was cleared and for those not clipping or dragging, there were paint brushes plied with Essex Green. Thank you to Anne Morehouse for organizing and to all participants.

The second week in August always brings lots of activity! On Friday to complement the “Life Between the Tides” exhibit there was a presentation by Hadley Clark, a research assistant/scientist from Woods Hole Oceanographic Center on life in tide pools. Following her presentation, the group went to the West Shore beach to explore creatures on the sand and under the seaweed. Thank you to Hadley for this neat educational experience. Saturday morning, Jim Morrell took a band of 12 children for the ‘Children’s Work Party.’ After clearing the beaches of litter, the kids were treated to ice cream sandwiches or Popsicles. By participating in that work party, those kids earned tickets to the beloved Penny Party that took place Saturday. Thank you again, Jim! By next year, his grandchildren will be joining the crowd! Just as background, the Penny party has been ongoing for at least 80 years as a means to raise money for the Tennis Club. Remarkably Patsy Mackenzie has been hosting the party for 32 of those years! Keep up the great work, please, Patsy! The amount raised in 1990 by a with a record attendance was $535, but this year with a relatively small group, the Penny Party raised over $2,100. We hear that a huge turtle that had been won five years ago, was won this year by an enthusiastic and thrilled Will Reece who just happens to be quite a bit smaller than said turtle! For those who were disappointed not to win Turtle, who knows, Turtle may show up as a prize in another year!

The Children’s Service, coordinated by Brenda Bowen, provided a bit of history about several island cottages. Moderators were Natalie Bowen and Farrah Sinclair. Participating were Ella and Ben Pierce and Marley, Barrett and Porter Reece. The moderators gave a bit of background about each cottage and the participants showed and described an artifact found in their cottage; for example, an ice cream scoop and wooden tennis racquet from the Pierce cottage and an antique Campfire Marshmallow tin, a ‘Camp Line Kin’ flag and a text on electrical engineering by great-grandfather Chester Dawes published in 1928 from the Dawes cottage, wooden yoke used by Mr. Colby to carry water from the Bowen cottage, and a poem written by Farrah’s great-grandmother, Louise Mackenzie.

Don’t miss the August Island Events to Follow: The Wharf Party/Oyster Tasting on Friday, Aug. 19 at 5 p.m. at the Pier. Bring an app to share, your beverages, and cash to purchase oysters at $1 each. Proceeds to benefit the new pier. Thank you to Doug Niven and Mere Point Oyster for hosting the oyster portion of the event. And, on Saturday evening, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. in the Casino, come to celebrate our new piano! Piano players will have the opportunity to perform, and a signature drink for a toast will be provided by the LIS. Please bring a dessert to share and consider wearing apparel in black and white. Donations will also be accepted/appreciated.